diabetes

• Diabetes


  A group of conditions characterized by a high level of blood glucose, commonly referred to as blood sugar
• Types of chronic diabetic conditions

  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Gestational diabetes
• Prediabetes

  When the blood sugar level is at the borderline: higher than normal, but lower than in diabetics
• Food digestion


  1. Carbohydrates break down into glucose

  2. Glucose is carried by the bloodstream to various organs of the body
• Insulin


  A hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreas and is necessary for glucose intake by target cells
• Healthy people

  • Beta cells of the pancreas produce insulin
  • Insulin binds to its receptor on target cells and induces glucose intake
• Type 1 diabetes

  • Beta cells of the pancreas are destroyed by the immune system by mistake
  • Insulin production is reduced
  • Less insulin binds to its receptor on target cells
  • Less glucose is taken into the cells, more glucose stays in the blood
  • Normally managed with insulin injection
  • Insulin dependent
• Type 2 diabetes

  • The pancreas produces enough insulin but something goes wrong either with receptor binding or insulin signaling inside the target cells
  • The cells are not responsive to insulin and therefore cannot import glucose
  • Glucose stays in the blood
  • Insulin resistant
  • Typically associated with obesity, inactive lifestyle, and unhealthy diet
  • Accounts for about 80 to 90% of all diabetics
  • Management focuses on weight loss and includes a low-carb diet